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Circulation of zoonosis and parasitosis in the Indian Ocean

This special issue published in Veterinary Research is a compilation of reviews exploring transmission and distribution of zoonotic infections on islands in the Indian Ocean.

Mascareignes and Madagascar is a group of islands located in the west part of the Indian Ocean. Insulation of these islands and fractioning of the biotope induce a high level of endemicity in flora and fauna. However, common insects, animals and pathogens also early invade this area. This conjunction of endemic and common elements sustains specific transmission processes of the diseases.

A meeting devoted to the circulation of infectious diseases in this area was organized between the 9th and 11th November 2011 at the Malagasy sciences academia in Antananarivo, Madagascar, entitled "Circulation of zoonosis and parasitosis in the Indian Ocean".

In this special issue, selected topics debated during this meeting illustrate this context. Leptospirosis, rabies or yellow fever are infectious diseases with an epidemiology particularly linked to the biotope, which illustrate complexity of the transmission of diseases in this area. In the same time dispersion of smooth ticks illustrates spreading of vectors from one island to another. Analysis of this complex setting will pave the way to the prevention of epidemic as for chikungunya.

 Foreword by Dr Ronan Jambou (Institut Pasteur de Madagascar)

  1. The role of terrestrial vertebrates in the epidemiology of chikungunya disease is poorly understood. We evaluated their exposure and amplification role during the 2006 chikungunya outbreak in the Indian Ocean....

    Authors: Gwenaël Vourc’h, Lénaïg Halos, Amélie Desvars, Franck Boué, Michel Pascal, Sylvie Lecollinet, Stéphan Zientara, Thomas Duval, Angella Nzonza and Michel Brémont
    Citation: Veterinary Research 2014 45:52
    Content type: Short report Published on:

  3. Recent studies have produced new insight into the origin and distribution of some cattle ticks in the south-western Indian Ocean islands. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, introduced from Tanzania in 2002, is now wel...

    Authors: Frédéric Stachurski, Pablo Tortosa, Patrick Rahajarison, Stéphanie Jacquet, Amina Yssouf and Karine Huber
    Citation: Veterinary Research 2013 44:79
    Content type: Review Published on:

  4. Rift Valley fever virus (Phlebovirus, Bunyaviridae) is an arbovirus causing intermittent epizootics and sporadic epidemics primarily in East Africa. Infection causes severe and often fatal illness in young sheep,...

    Authors: Thomas Balenghien, Eric Cardinale, Véronique Chevalier, Nohal Elissa, Anna-Bella Failloux, Thiery Nirina Jean Jose Nipomichene, Gaelle Nicolas, Vincent Michel Rakotoharinome, Matthieu Roger and Betty Zumbo
    Citation: Veterinary Research 2013 44:78
    Content type: Review Published on:

  5. Mayotte and La Reunion islands are currently free of animal rabies and surveillance is performed by the French Human and Veterinary Public Health Services. However, dog rabies is still enzootic in Madagascar w...

    Authors: Soa Fy Andriamandimby, Jean-Michel Héraud, Ravo Ramiandrasoa, Maherisoa Ratsitorahina, Jhon H Rasambainarivo, Laurent Dacheux, Anthony Lepelletier, Steven M Goodman, Jean-Marc Reynes and Hervé Bourhy
    Citation: Veterinary Research 2013 44:77
    Content type: Review Published on: